A copy of graffiti found in Pompeii supporting Nero
This morning we visited the Nero exhibition in the British Museum. I still get a thrill when entering the covered courtyard, one of the best bits of architecture created in my lifetime although I have not visited Barnet’s new ground yet.
We learnt a great deal, Claudius's last words were supposedly “Oh dear I think I have shit myself” and that Nero was very popular with the masses (plebs) but not with the senators and aristocracy who thought he was a showman and demeaned their status.
As history was written by the aristocracy poor old Nero got a bad write up and was much maligned. He did not fiddle while Rome burned, he is not thought to have been there when it caught fire.
Mind you the intrigue that went on especially before he became emperor was interesting as anyone who has read I Claudius or seen the TV version will know.
Having had our cultural fix for the day we cycled along Oxford Street and round Hyde Park before visiting the latest architectural gem in London, the Marble Arch Mound. It cost £6m and is amazing for its complete failure to do anything well.
It is a temporary scaffolding mound covered in grass, it is not quite high enough to see over the buildings in Park Lane and does nothing to enhance the area. It is so bad they have given up trying to charge so it is now free and presumably will be dismantled soon.
We then walked back though town taking in the sights to Fenchurch Street where we had a very nice dinner in the Sky-garden, 36 floors up with wonderful views over the river and surprisingly good food.
Then back on Boris bikes for the cycle home through a deserted city.